Despite free choice oyster shell, crushed eggshell and milk in their wet mash and adequate vitamins A and D in the ration (home mixed), one of my Australorp hens has been laying eggs with very soft, leathery shells. I have spoken to my extension agent who was to contact the state poultry specialist on my behalf but I haven't heard from him yet. This flock was hatched 7 June '99 and has been in lay since early November. They seem healthy otherwise. We raised them in a chicken tractor which we have moved into an unheated greenhouse for the winter. They also have a 12x24 outdoors run for exercise. Both the greenhouse and run are situated on part of the garden but I'm a strict organic gardener. However, the bases of both the tractor and the greenhouse are built from pressure treated wood that was part of a 20+ year old deck. Any ideas? I don't plan to let her brood any chicks since this could be hereditary.

-- Marilyn Dickerson (rainbow@ktis.net), January 21, 2000

Answers

Marilyn, many times a young hen will lay soft eggs for a while. Wouldn't hurt to give her some more time before souping her. I've never had many hens that did this, and they all came out of it. I have no facts behind me, but if she doesn't change, I would assume heredity problems. If other hens start, I'd start thinking about diseases/parasites, but it doesn't sound very likely.

I'd hope that the pressure treated wood would have leached everything it is going to. But they've changed the chemicals they use to make pressure treated wood over the years. Are the plants growing around the outside of the greenhouse normal? But I'd guess that the wood would be a distant third for causing problems.

As long as the rest of the chickens are doing ok, don't worry about it. If it starts spreading, you'll need to kill a hen and you or the vet should cut in and see if there is anything unusual inside her. If it seems to be a disease, you'll probably have to use drugs. If it is internal parasites, you might be able to get ahead of them by feeding the hens pumpkin seeds. You'll also need to move the tractor to fresh ground and keep it moving (bye-bye lawn, although if you keep moving it, won't be too much damage).

But I'm as sure as I can be that she's just a young hen who will come out of it. The bright side is she won't get egg bound. Although an internally broken egg is still a possibilty. Just give her some time.

Sounds like you take super good care of your flock. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), January 21, 2000.

Marilyn, It sounds like you are doing everything right and the first answer was great. A couple of things I do to help keep my chickens healthy. I feed lots of dark greens, eg: kale, cabbage, chard, etc., they seem to able to utilize the calcium well in the greens. I also give them a small pile of partially decayed leaves or compost (I don't put food scraps in this particular pile due to our dogs) in their pen, they love to scratch through it, and the added bugs in their diet seems to keep them healthier. I also give them small amounts of alfalfa hay-another good calcium source. Are you adding kelp to their feed? Good source of calcium, other minerals and simulates the glandular function. Good luck, Chris Chris.

-- Christine Allen (cfallen00@hotmail.com), January 21, 2000.

Hi, Marilyn!

I learned a lot from the above answers myself, but had a couple things to add from my experience with my now 17 Buff Orps (only 3 months older than your chickens--March hatch).

Is the pullet low on the order? Perhaps she's being chased away from enough of the yum yum...it's a longshot idea, but something that happened to one of mine. Also, I had a lovely pullet that was very gentle and loved to have the children pick her up...but layed not only soft eggs, but weird eggs that had no shells! The yolk and white were connected by a thick string and that was all there was. Shortly after being discovered to be the one doing this, she died peacefully one day in a box in the house after suddenly going off feed and wanting to be held.

Funny how much she loved the holding...almost like she knew what was coming, months before we did, and wanted the comfort. All this about Miss No-Shell to say, it may be a hereditary problem, like you said.

However, I hope your lovely comes out of it as was suggested...your care sounds superb and Australorps are beautiful chickens.

Take care,

-- KK (figtree@bright.net), January 21, 2000.

I have had a hen or two in every batch that laid soft eggs the first couple or 3 months they begin laying. I dont think all the hens begin laying at the same time so it could be more than one hen. Any way they always got firm with time. my flock of 20 rhode island reds had a couple that were laying soft eggs from about sept to november. They were hatched around easter. i have no problems with this now

-- brian r (brian3006@msn.com), January 26, 2000.

I also would not worry yet.I have had chicks lay soft eggs in the begining. I would think of getting rid of the pt wood .the chemicals used in the process to make it could be toxic .You should be ok as long as they dont peck it.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), January 30, 2000.

Thanks to all who offered suggestions, advice, encouragement. I never did figure out which hen it was except that it was one of twelve Australorps. I haven't seen any weak shells for several days and rate of lay for the group is such that she must have quit. We've had snow and cold the past several days and I figured this would impede them a bit. Give nature a chance and she'll heal herself. Thanks again.

-- Marilyn Dickerson (rainbow@ktis.net), January 31, 2000.